Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 04.djvu/169

Rh

July 17th, 1863.

Major

A. A. Gen. Hood's Division:


 * I have the honor to submit through you my report of the action of my brigade in the battle of Gettysburg, on the 2d and 3d of July. I have been too much occupied with the duties imposed by the marches and manœuvres we have gone through to allow me to make this report at an earlier time.

The division arrived on the ground in front of the position of the enemy that we were to attack but a few minutes before we were ordered to advance. I, therefore, got but a glance at the field on which we had to operate before we entered upon it. I was ordered to keep my right well closed on Brigadier-General Law's left, and to let my left rest on the Emmettsburg pike. I had advanced but a short distance when I discovered that my brigade would not fill the space between General Law's left and the pike named, and that I must leave the pike or disconnect myself from General Law on my right. Understanding before the ationaction [sic] commenced that the attack on our part was to be general, and that the force of General McLaws was to advance simultaneously with us on my immediate left, and seeing at once that a mountain held by the enemy in heavy force with artillery, to the right of General Law's centre, was the key to the enemy's left, I abandoned the pike and closed on General Law's left. This caused some separation of my regiments, which was remedied as promptly as the numerous stone and rail fences that intersected the field through which we were advancing would allow. As we advanced through this field for half a mile, we were exposed to a heavy and